host: what is the law? guest: the law prohibits direct conversion, generally. absent another law, before you would contract out work currently performed by federal employees, you have to perform a cost comparison to try to make sure that the decision to contract out is in the interest of taxpayers. that process right now is under consideration because of such a flawed process. basically, agencies are predicated right now from converting work performed by federal employees to privatize government employee work. host: 80 in massachusetts, republican. -- eddie. caller: i am pessimistic when i hear the l.a. times say they're happy to lower the deficit spending. going from 1.5 trillion to 1.3 trillion, a big deal. federal workers going on in four-the workweek. that's fine. but regarding the pensions, there was a guy in california, a manager who retired, gave himself for a raise, $850,000 per year. he has 90% + $850,000, that gives him $800,000 in pension per year. would you please address spiking intentions? guest: i have read about some of these cases in california